Liveblog: ++ Death toll in Lviv rises to six ++

After the Russian rocket attack on a block of flats in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, the death toll has risen to six. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy concedes that the counteroffensive is “not progressing quickly”. All developments in the live blog.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants to draw attention to China and Russia’s activities in Asia, which Japan sees as a threat to global security, at the NATO leaders’ meeting in Lithuania on Tuesday. Last year, Kishida urged “like-minded nations” to stick together while warning that a Ukraine-like conflict, which Russia calls a special operation, could erupt in East Asia if China attempts to seize control of self-governing Taiwan.

According to the US Presidential Office and the US State Department, the US government has neither sanctioned nor supported informal meetings between senior ex-government officials and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other Russian participants. “I want to be clear that these discussions were not sponsored or encouraged by us and we do not actively support them in any way,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CBS News.

“As the President said: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine”. NBC News previously reported that the former government officials met with Lavrov in New York in April to hold talks to end the Ukraine war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has admitted that his army’s counter-offensive is “not progressing quickly” – but has assured that Kiev’s troops are still advancing. “The offensive is not fast, that’s for sure,” Zelenskyj told journalists in Prague after a meeting with Czech head of state Petr Pavel. “But we’re still advancing and not retreating like the Russians are doing,” he added. With a view to the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania, Zelenskyy confirmed that his country wanted to receive an “invitation” to join at the meeting. “We need honesty in our relations with NATO”. It was time to demonstrate “the courage and strength of this alliance”.

After the Russian rocket attack on a residential area in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv (Lemberg), the death toll has risen to six. Late that evening, authorities reported that another woman had been pulled from the rubble of a destroyed building. According to official information, around 40 people were injured. Search and rescue operations continued.

There is information that people are still trapped under the rubble, it said. Two houses are said to have been completely destroyed. According to the information, more than 60 people were evacuated from the destroyed houses. Seven people were rescued from the rubble. Overall, damage to 35 buildings was mentioned. A mourning was declared in the city for two days.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has arrived in the Czech Republic for talks with his counterpart Pavel. Romania wants to train pilots from NATO partner countries and Ukraine on F16 fighter jets. Thursday’s live blog to read.